Anthony Davis delivered a dominant performance with 31 points and 14 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers secured their fifth consecutive win, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 104-99 on Saturday night.
LeBron James contributed 21 points, including two critical 3-pointers in the final minutes, despite falling short of extending his career-best streak of four straight triple-doubles. Rookie Dalton Knecht added a career-high 27 points, while Austin Reaves chipped in 10 points for the Lakers.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 32 points, supported by Jaylen Nowell’s 16 points off the bench. Brandon Boston Jr. and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Lakers Rally in Second Half
The Pelicans started strong, using an 11-0 run to take an early 20-9 lead and finishing the first quarter ahead 30-21. With help from Nowell, they extended their advantage to as much as 15 points in the second quarter. However, the Lakers closed the gap late in the half, with James scoring six points in the final minutes to narrow the deficit to 56-46 at intermission.
Davis came out firing in the third quarter, scoring the Lakers’ first five points. Knecht followed with back-to-back 3-pointers during an 11-2 run that brought Los Angeles within one point. The Pelicans briefly rebuilt a six-point lead, but Knecht and Davis combined for another scoring surge, giving the Lakers a 67-63 advantage.
D’Angelo Russell’s 3-pointer and Davis’ continued dominance helped Los Angeles maintain a 75-71 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Late-Game Heroics Seal the Win
The Lakers pushed their lead to 10 points early in the final quarter before the Pelicans responded with a 9-0 run to pull within one. New Orleans tied the game multiple times, including at 87 and 95, but James’ consecutive 3-pointers in the closing moments gave Los Angeles a 101-97 lead with 37.6 seconds remaining.
The Pelicans had an opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds, but a turnover on an inbounds pass by Robinson-Earl ended their hopes. Knecht sealed the victory with two free throws.
The win improves the Lakers’ record, as they continue to build momentum in the Western Conference standings.